Metro Sports Report

J-Hawks top Wahawks on goal by Owen

Jenna Owen did not start Wednesday's soccer game for Jefferson High School, but she finished it in style.

Owen scored with 7 minutes, 42 seconds left in regulation to snap an 0-0 tie and give the J-Hawks a 1-0 victory over Waterloo West in the regional semifinals at Kingston Stadium.

Jefferson will face Kennedy in the regional finals Monday at 5 p.m. for a berth in the Class 3A state tournament.

Owen normally starts for the J-Hawks (8-10), but she did not crack the opening lineup Wednesday. Coach Ash Brannan used her as a substitute, and she had just re-entered the game as a midfielder when the crucial play occurred.

Katie Dierks had a throw-in for Jefferson from the far side, and the ball came to Owen in front of the goal.

"I had just come in like two seconds before that," Owen said. "I took a shot. I was kind of shocked it went in, actually. I tried to go over her, because there were a bunch of people in front of me."

Owen lofted the ball over Waterloo West goal-keeper Alex Kastli and gently into the net, ending a scoreless battle. Jefferson dominated the game, but missed several opportunities and needed 72 minutes and 18 seconds to finally score.

Warriors ousted by controversial call

DES MOINES - The Washington boys soccer team ended its season on a controversial goal by Iowa City West in a 2-1 loss in the first round of the state tournament at
the Cownie Soccer Complex.

With the score tied 1-1 in the 59th minute, the Trojans' Nick Kuntz let go a long shot from way outside the box and it bounced off of teammate Justin Baker’s head and into the Washington goal. The sideline judge put up his flag signaling offsides but after a conference with the head official, they decided that Baker didn’t touch the ball and the goal was counted.

“None of the officials saw it hit his head,” Washington Coach J.P. Graham said. “We had a good view of it, because we could see it deflect. It was going right at our keeper then all the sudden it took a left turn and went into the side netting. Physics could tell you that ball hit somebody's head.”

Baker admitted that the ball went off of his head, although he didn’t think that he was offsides in the first place.

Prep sports turn from spring to summer

The transition is nearly complete.

The spring sports have had their championships, or are nearing their championships, and the summer sports are now in full gear.

Here are some observations:

Best of luck to the three Metro boys soccer representatives at the state tournament this week in Des Moines.  Washington and Kennedy will be in the 3A field, while Xavier looks for another title in 2A.

The draw was unfortunate for Kennedy. The Cougars, despite having a very good squad, drew the No. 8 -- and last seed -- and will open against No. 1 West Des Moines Valley. The Cougars played a strong schedule and are somewhat penalized for it because the seeds are set up based solely on record and winning percentage. That is unlike other sports which seed their tournaments based on strength of schedule as well. Hopefully, we will see an all-Metro semifinal with Kennedy and Wash.

I had an opportunity to witness two of the top 4A baseball teams in the state battle it out Tuesday night as No. 1 Kennedy traveled to Iowa City to meet No. 4 West in a rematch of last season's state championship game. These two squads have talent galore up and down their lineups and it was all on display in their Mississippi Valley Conference opening doubleheader.

Washington girls want first trip to state

Cedar Rapids Washington has never sent a team to the girls state soccer tournament.

They're just a game away now.

The eighth-ranked Warriors blanked Dubuque Senior, 6-0, in the regional semifinals Wednesday night at Kingston Stadium and will play for a berth in the state tournament on Monday.

The obstacle will be 10th-ranked Linn-Mar in a match scheduled for Kingston at 7 p.m. Monday.

The Warriors don't like having a "zero" next to the entry for state tournament appearances.

"We have a chance to deal with that on Monday, so it's kind of exciting," said Sean McCoy, in his second year at Washington.